This is the first game I was introduced to and is still one of my favourites. It’s a game for between two and five players, a typical game lasts around 30 minutes (2 player) to 60 minutes (5 players).
There are currently 26 (and growing) versions of the game Ticket to Ride, the one I am introducing to you today is the original version of the game which was released in 2004 and is based on the train routes in North America. Apart from being lots of fun, it requires critical thinking from players, which is great for children as they don’t even realise that by playing the game, they are exercising their brains.
This is a card collecting style game where you collect train cards of various colours which in exchange allow you to build train routes
Objectives of the Game
There are three main objectives to the game:
- Build a train route between two cities
- Complete a path of routes as directed on your destination tickets
- Build the longest continuous path of routes
Rules of the game
The rules of the game are a little tricky to explain, so I have linked you to a 3 minute video which explains the rules more concisely than I could ever do. There's always some ambiguity when it comes to reading the instructions, so I find a video always explains it better as someone can show you everything rather than just tell you.
The Rules of Ticket to Ride - YouTube Video
The Board Game
It not a board game you will find on the shelves of your local supermarket as you would expect with other board games.
The easiest way to get hold of a copy is online. I have done a quick search and now, the cheapest place to get a copy is on Amazon. It currently has a 29% discount from £39.99 to £28.49, for those of you that have Amazon Prime, you can order today and receive tomorrow, perfect for the upcoming holidays.
Ticket to Ride (Original) on Amazon
The original version of the game is option (b) in the link with the image from above. There are currently 26 different versions of the game but I would recommend the original version of the game for someone new to board games.
The version I have is a 10th Anniversary Limited Edition version of the board game which I picked up for about £50 about 5 years ago. I have just tried to search for my version which I could only find on eBay where its selling for £350. I might have to consider selling my copy!
The game comes with 5 sets of 45 mini trains, one for each player, these are placed on the board as you claim train routes.
The Mobile/Tablet App
There is also a mobile or tablet version of the game available on both the Apple and Android stores. The app does cost £8 for the original map and other maps can be added for £2.49 each. With the app you can play by yourself against AI players, play against a friend who is present with you at the time, play with a friend online, play against random opponents online. To play against a friend online, they will also require a copy of the game on their device.
A typical game against AI opponents takes between 5 and 10 minutes on the mobile or tablet app.
Other Versions of Ticket to Ride I have Played before
Of the 26 versions available, here are the ones I have tried. Each game has slightly different rules and objectives making each game unique, not just the same game with different cities (like a popular board you will already know of).
- Ticket to Ride Europe – This is a very popular game and uses the concept of train stations to add another dimension to the original game.
- Ticket to Ride UK and Pennsylvania – if you fancy something more familiar and want to improve your local geography, this game introduces technology cards
- Ticket to India and Switzerland – this one is great if you have only 2 or 3 players
- Ticket to Ride Asia – This one is great if you have 6 players
All versions of the game are similar, but all have their own unique twist
If you want to get the family to all sit down in one place for a couple of hours, you can’t go wrong with a game of Ticket to Ride. Suitable for anyone ages 8 upwards. There is a version aimed at children aged 6+ but I haven't had a chance to play it yet.
If you want to order yourself a copy, below is a direct link to the original version of the game.
Ticket to Ride Original £28.49
Ticket to Ride Original - 10th Anniversary Limited Edition (SOLD OUT)
